Are you a part-time university teacher working 20 hours or more per week? You might be missing out on crucial benefits you’re legally entitled to. The General Union is currently investigating non-compliance with Shakai Hoken (Employee Health and Pension Insurance) enrolment at universities across Japan.

Since 2016, the law has required workplaces with 501 or more employees to enrol staff working 20 or more hours per week in Shakai Hoken. However, we’re uncovering numerous cases where eligible university teachers have been incorrectly left out of the system. This isn’t just a minor oversight – it’s a significant issue that could be impacting your health coverage, pension benefits, and long-term financial security.

Our current campaign has revealed a troubling pattern. As we prepare for the October 2024 expansion of Shakai Hoken requirements to companies with 51 or more employees, we’ve discovered that many universities haven’t even complied with the 2016 regulations. This means that for years, many part-time university staff may have been deprived of their rightful benefits.

Consider this: if you’re teaching 10 koma (teaching periods) per week, you’re likely working at least 20 hours and should be enrolled in Shakai Hoken. Yet, we’re finding that many in this situation have been overlooked.

The Implications are serious and far-reaching. Without proper Shakai Hoken enrolment, you’re not just missing out on current benefits, but you may have already lost out on years of crucial coverage:

• Comprehensive health insurance coverage: You might have paid more out-of-pocket for medical expenses.
• Pension benefits: A potential 8-year gap since 2016 could significantly impact your future retirement income.
• Injury and sickness allowance: You may have lost out on financial support during past illnesses.
• Maternity allowance: If you’ve been pregnant since 2016, you might have missed out on substantial financial support for the time off before and after childbirth.

Remember, the law changed again in 2022, lowering the threshold to 100 employees. This means that even more university teachers should have been enrolled over the past two years. Universities have a lot to answer for in this situation. Their failure to enroll eligible staff has potentially deprived you of years of benefits and future security.

If you’re teaching 10 koma or more per week, you should have been enrolled as far back as 2016 at many universities, and almost certainly since 2022. The time to act is now.

Don’t let your university shortchange your future. If you’re a part-time university teacher working 20 hours or more per week, we urge you to check your enrolment status immediately. If you find you’re not enrolled but should be, or if you’re unsure, contact us right away. We’re here to help you secure the benefits you deserve.

Join our campaign. Help us ensure that all eligible university staff, regardless of their part-time status, receive the full social insurance benefits they’re entitled to. Your future security is at stake – let’s act now. Contact us at hotline@genu.cc